Leh, Sept 23, 2024: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) chaired a meeting at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat to discuss the Registration and Renewal Guidelines for Adventure Tour Operators (ATOs) in Ladakh.

Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Shri Vikram Singh Malik, IAS, apprised the HLG of the objective of the guidelines, i.e. to promote and ensure clean, high-quality, safe, eco-friendly and sustainable adventure sports activities by fostering responsible practices and bringing all bonafide adventure tour operators in the organised set-up. He informed the HLG about the land-based, air-based and water-based adventure activities in Ladakh; the validity and fee structure for registration and renewal; the formulation of advisory, regulatory and inspection committees along with their functions and members; the eligibility criteria and documents required for registration and renewal; the responsibilities of ATOs and the responsibilities of the guides, etc.

The HLG asked Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Shri Vikram Malik, IAS, to reduce the validity of the registration from five to three years so that the quality of ATOs can be ensured and their registration can be renewed based on their performance. He also asked Shri Malik, IAS, to keep April 1 as the start of the new tourist season in Ladakh. He instructed that the Secretary of the Tourism Department should be the Head of the Advisory Committee.

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The HLG stated that all six eligibility criteria and documents required for registration and renewal such as the applicant’s proof of identity, requirement of Ladakh Resident Certificate, business incorporation details, the possession of essential equipment, office address proof and additional requirements such as insurance details, NOCs and other certifications as per guidelines should be made mandatory. He directed that first aid should also be made mandatory.

The HLG highlighted the need to notify zones for paragliding activities in Ladakh along with the need for ATOs to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence, GoI, for carrying out Para Motoring activities in Ladakh. He asked the Secretary of Tourism Department to categorise adventure sports into two categories: high risk and very high risk based on which children below 12 years can engage in these activities accompanied/unaccompanied by an adult.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson suggested adding snow-based activities and inclusion of snow mobiles/scooters, jet skis and sandboarding in the adventure activities categories.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; Principal Secretary, Shri Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary to the HLG, Dr L Franklin, IAS and Secretary, Tourism, Shri Vikram Malik, IAS, were present in the meeting.